What are common exit interview questions?

An exit interview is a structured conversation with an employee who is leaving your organisation. It’s an opportunity to learn why they resigned and what you can improve. Here are typical questions you might ask:

• Why are you leaving the company?
• What did you like most about your job?
• What could have been better?
• How would you describe our management and communication?
• Were your career goals supported here?
• What advice do you have for your successor?
• Would you recommend our company as a place to work? Why or why not?

These questions help identify patterns that may be driving turnover. Exit interviews also give departing employees a chance to leave on a constructive note. To encourage candour, reassure them that their feedback will be anonymised and used for improvement.

Avoid turning an exit interview into a grievance session or a plea to stay. Focus on listening and understanding. Use the insights to adjust policies, training and culture. For additional question ideas, see Employee engagement survey questions and What are good employee satisfaction survey questions?. Our blog Employee Engagement Surveys explains how regular surveys, combined with thoughtful exit interviews, create a feedback loop that improves retention.